Politeness and American Conversational English Page 4

EFL Japan
"a world of difference"

EFL Listening and Speaking
Politeness and American Conversational Usage

Function: Requesting

Stimu-Con Usage Games: It's Not Only WHAT You Say But HOW You Say It!
Game

Conversational Focus
Haruo is looking for a birthday gift for his friend Natsuko. He finds something he thinks Natsuko will like, so ...

Communication Function
CharacterA / CharacterB
Asking (a salesperson) to gift-wrap something / Responding positively

Suggestion Key
Character A / Character B

1. Can you gift-wrap this? / Sure.
2. Can you wrap this as a gift? / Certainly.
3. Could you gift-wrap this? / Of course.
4. Could you wrap this as a gift? / Sure.
5. Would you gift-wrap this? / Yes, of course.
6. Would you wrap this as a gift? / Of course.
7. Please gift-wrap this. / O.K.
8. Please wrap this as a gift. / Alright.

What would you say?

Stimu-Con Usage Games: It's Not Only WHAT You Say But HOW You Say It!
Game

Conversational Focus
Dr. Alanzo loves spicy food and would like someone to pass him the chili sauce ...

Communication Function
CharacterA / CharacterB
Requesting someone to do something (in this case, to pass the chili sauce)

Suggestion Key
Character A / Character B

1. Can you pass me the chili sauce? / Of course.
2. Please pass me the chili sauce. / Sure.
3. Can you hand me the chili sauce? / Here you go.
4. Can I have the chili sauce? / Certainly.
5. Can I have some chili sauce? / Of course.
6. Sorry, I can't reach the chili sauce ... / No problem. Here ...

What would you say?

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